Joseph boyd



J BOYD ALARM BELL.

(No Model.)

Patented July 14, 1896.

g g w 8% WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY ject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ire- PATENT Fries.

JOSEPH BOYD, OF KINGSTOYVN, IRELAND.

ALARM -BELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,837, dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed July 20, 1895. Serial No. 556,655. (No model.) Yatented in England November 3, 1894, No. 21,165; in France July 9, 1895,1l0. 235,974,:1ndin Belgium July 9,18%,No. 89,233.

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osErH BOYD, a subland, residing at Upper Georges Street, Kingstown, county of Dublin, Ireland, have invented an Improved Warning-B ell or Alarm for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention has been set forth in a patent in Great Britain dated November 3, 189%, No. 21,165; in a patent in France filed July 9, 1895, No. 235,97l, and in a patent in Belgium filed July 9, 1895, No. 89,233.

In connection with vehicles, especially those provided with pneumatic or cushion tires, it is found desirable and sometimes necessary to be provided with means whereby an alarm can be made in the event of obstacles appearing on theroad, or for the purpose of announcing the approach of a carriage. This object is usually attained by attaching to some convenient portion of the harness a bell which is rung by the natural movements of the animal. This practice is ineifective where there is much traiiic or noise, or when the animal moves slowly, as, for instance, in turnin g a corner, when the alarm is most required, the bell ceases or almost ceases ringing, and consequently there is practically no intimation of the approach of a carriage,and danger of a collision accordingly arises. To obviate this inconvenience and avoid this danger and facilitate traffic is the object of this invention, and to this end I provide an alarm which can be readily and conveniently operated by the driver of the vehicle.

In carrying out my invention I use a bell of the bicycle trembling type, which I mount in suitable framework provided with a suitable base-plate, to one end of which is hinged a foot-plate whose free end is connected to the operating-lever of the bell. The alarm is produced by the pressure of the drivers foot on the foot-plate. .A good example of this class of bell is shown in the American Patent No. 498,908, to John O. WVells, of East Hampton, Connecticut, dated June 6, 1893.

I provide in combination therewith a spring device for readily attaching the alarm to the foot-board of a carriage and for detaching the same with case when no longer required. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and will enable my said invention to be more readily understood and applied in practice.

Figure l is an elevation of the apparatus complete; Fig. 2, a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 a detail hereinafter described.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they appear.

Two bells Aare illustrated and as being in relatively-reversed position.

13 is the frame in which the bells are mounted by means of a bolt and nuts, said frame serving the purpose of protecting the domes composing the bells, especially the edges, thus securing the proper sounding vibration of the same.

0 is the foot-plate, hinged to the base-plate D and connected by a pivot-joint to the operating-1ever O of the bell. The depression of the foot-plate acts through the roller shown to depress the lever C against the force of an efficient return-spring, and' the sinking and rising of this lever G operates the usual internal mechanism of the trembling bicycle type and causes repeated sounds of the bell.

The apparatus is secured to the carriage by means of a wire frame G, as shown in plan in Fig. 3. This frame is attached to the apparatus, as shown in Fig. l,by producing four holes m larger than the wire in the floor and in the carpet or mat, introducing the wire ends G G2 G G from below, and then bending them squarely inward by pliers or otherwise at a proper height above the floor or carpet. This fastening is of no effect when not needed, but when it is desired the bell and its foot-plate and supportingframe are placed in position on the mat and the pairs of elastic wires are engaged by expanding two ends GG and inserting same in the eyes F, so as to constitute a pivotal or hinge like connection. Then the other ends G G; are expanded and locked to the base-plate D.

Any tendency to lateral oscillation is prevented by the projections B B formed on the base-plate.

My invention affords ready and suitable means whereby those in charge of carriages are enabled to produce an alarm at any moment, and by repeating the movement of the foot, to keep up a continuous alarm when necessary. This alarm does not require the winding up of any mechanism. It is produced without the aid of the hands. It can be brought into requisition instantaneously, since the foot may without inconvenience rest lightly in permanent contact with the footplate, so long as the driver occupies his usual position.

It is understood that my invention may be readily applied to any class of vehicle, or in fact to any moving conveyance-such, for instance, as a yacht, a boat, or a steamer-in connection with which it may be found convenient to operate an alarm otherwise than by the hands.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I can omit the apertures shown in the frame B. I can make the elastic frame G G G G G in a single piece ofhard brass or steel with the ends bent inward, and serving in all respects the same as two wires bound together as here shown.

Parts of the invention can be used without the whole. I can dispense with the wire frame G, &c., and fasten and release the apparatus by a simple screw E. (See Fig. 1, which shows such a screw in addition to the spring-fastening G.)

I claim as my invention 1. In a foot-operated bell for vehicles (be. the combination of a base-plate D, and case 13, the latter containing the bell, its hammer, and inner portion of the lever O for positively vibrating the hammer by its movement in either direction,a retracting-sprin g for said lever,and a normally-inclined foot-plate O, having its inner higher end movably connected with the lever O, the parts being so arranged that both the depression and subsequent release of the foot-plate will effect a positive vibration of the bell-hammer and consequent prolonged ringing of the bell, substantially as specified.

2. In a foot-operated bell for vehicles &c.

I the combination of a base-plate D, having the lateral projections B, B giving broad support therefor, means for securing said plate to a floor, a case B, integral with the plate and containing the bell, its hammer and inner portion of the lever O for positively vibrating the hammer by its movement in either direction, a retracting-spring for said lever, and a normally-inclined foot-plate O, hinged at its lower outer end to the base-plate and movably connected at its inner higher end to the lever O the arts bein so arran ed that both,

, P s s the depression and subsequent release of the foot-plate will effect a positive vibration of the bell-hammer and consequent prolonged ringing of the bell, substantially as herein specified.

3. As an improvement in bells for vehicles, the. the base-plate D and case B, the latter containing the bell, its hammer and inner portion of the lever O, for positively vibrating the hammer by its movement in either direction, a retracting-spring for said lever, and a normally-inclined foot-plate having its inner higher end movably connected with the lever O, in combination with the spring-frame Gr. Gr, G G G set in the floor and having their upper ends bent inward and adapted to snugly engage and to release the apparatus by a simple movement, all substantially as herein specified.

Dated at Dublin this 2atth day of June, 1805.

JOSEPH BOYD. Vitnesses:

A. WVM. LABEnroUeK, ANGELO FAHIE. 

